Professor William Onogu Delivers PAAU’s 23rd Inaugural Lecture, Calls for Cultural Reawakening Through Folk Media and Theatre
By Yahaya Idris, Kogi
Professor of Theatre for Development at Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Professor William Sunday Onogu, has called for a renewed embrace of indigenous communication systems, cultural values, and participatory theatre as practical solutions to Nigeria’s growing socio-economic and moral challenges.
Professor Onogu made the submission while delivering the 23rd Inaugural Lecture of the university titled “Stepping Backward to Move Forward: Folk Media and Theatre for Development Approach” on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the University Auditorium.
The scholar argued that Nigeria’s quest for sustainable development requires a deliberate return to Africa’s indigenous knowledge systems, stressing that traditional values once promoted peace, honesty, communal responsibility, and social harmony.
Speaking before an audience of academics, students, traditional rulers, development practitioners, and invited guests, Professor Onogu observed that contemporary Nigerian society is confronted with numerous challenges, including insecurity, kidnapping, corruption, cultism, ritual killings, human trafficking, and the gradual erosion of moral values.
According to him, the concept of “Stepping Backward to Move Forward” does not advocate regression but encourages society to revisit enduring African traditions capable of complementing modern development strategies.
He explained that sustainable national development can only be achieved by integrating indigenous wisdom with contemporary approaches to governance, communication, and community engagement.
Professor Onogu described culture as the totality of a people’s way of life, including their beliefs, customs, traditions, language, festivals, music, laws, and moral values.
He lamented the growing influence of materialism, noting that the pursuit of wealth has weakened the moral fabric of many African societies.
The professor defined folk media as indigenous communication channels such as storytelling, folk songs, proverbs, dances, masquerades, festivals, and puppetry, explaining that these traditional platforms have historically served as effective instruments for education, public enlightenment, entertainment, and value transmission.
The inaugural lecturer also highlighted the importance of Theatre for Development, describing it as a participatory communication approach that enables communities to identify, analyse, and solve their development challenges through culturally relevant dramatic performances.
According to him, the approach promotes dialogue, inclusion, community ownership, and collective action while complementing modern communication strategies.
Professor Onogu identified accessibility, cultural relevance, participation, moral reorientation, and dialogue as key strengths of folk media and Theatre for Development.
He urged governments, religious organisations, traditional institutions, and community leaders to champion programmes that restore integrity, discipline, patriotism, and responsible citizenship among Nigerian youths.
The theatre scholar further emphasised the indispensable role of the family in preserving societal values through proper upbringing, education, emotional support, and cultural transmission.
He described the family as the bedrock of sustainable national development and called for greater commitment to moral education within homes.
Among his recommendations were increased investment in documenting indigenous knowledge systems, equipping university students with both contemporary and traditional performance skills, and strengthening policy support for folk media and Theatre for Development as instruments for community empowerment and national development.
Professor Onogu concluded that communication should transcend information dissemination by creating meaningful dialogue capable of transforming society.
Earlier, Chairman of the Inaugural Lecture Committee, Professor S. S. Arogba, congratulated Professor Onogu for attaining the distinguished academic milestone and praised his outstanding contributions to scholarship in Theatre Arts and Theatre for Development.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, described the lecture as another landmark in the institution’s academic history.
He noted that it was the sixth inaugural lecture held since he assumed office on February 11, 2026.
Professor Usman described the lecture’s theme as timely and intellectually stimulating, stressing that societies must rediscover indigenous knowledge systems and traditional communication methods to achieve sustainable progress.
He added that Folk Media and Theatre for Development have evolved into important interdisciplinary fields connecting theatre, communication, sociology, anthropology, education, and development studies.
The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed the university’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and character development while congratulating Professor Onogu for delivering a lecture that was both academically enriching and socially relevant.
The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of the Inaugural Lecture Certificate, Plaque, and Medal to Professor William Sunday Onogu.
The event attracted members of the University Management, Senate, academic and non-academic staff, students, traditional rulers, scholars from various institutions, development practitioners, and distinguished guests from within and outside the university community.
